PPG: Minutes 10th February 2025

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Members/apologies

Welcome

David opened the meeting with a minute of silence and tribute to Arthur Laxton (PPG Vice Chair) who had passed away suddenly in December.  

David welcomed two new members, Anne George and Mandy Jones, Val Stanley who had re-joined and also Steve Ash from Ide Lane Surgery PPG.  Steve had come along to observe and share experiences where appropriate.

Apologies

Apologies have been received from Alex Cook, Sadie Clarke and Nigel Davey.

Minutes of Last Meeting

The Minutes of the last meeting were Agreed.

Note: The meeting in December had been cancelled due to Arthur’s sudden passing.

Matters arising from the Minutes

Patient Transport:

It was still proving difficult to recruit volunteers.  The service is heavily utilised but chronically underfunded with a running cost of £23k pa currently being funded from reserves.  Lack of transport is often a barrier to people attending appointments and leads to non-attendance.

Additionally the minibus is in need of replacement.  Changing to an MPV may provide a more functional option.

David said he would contact Martin Wrigley, MP for Newton Abbot and Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon to seek funding.

Amanda will provide stats and case studies to David to use to support the case.

Menopause café:

Amanda confirmed that there was definitely a need. Anette to provide Amanda with the contact details of the contact she has who expressed interest in delivering it.

Waiting Times on Check in screen & Appt purpose in Text:

Email updates from Alex since the November meeting confirmed that the self-check-in screen had been amended to include estimated waiting time.  Regarding text messages confirming appointment purpose - it was not technically possible to include the purpose of the visit in the text.

Practice Updates

The latest Friends and Family survey responses were:  76 people rated the Practice as Very Good, 6 as Good, 3 as neither Good nor Poor, 1 as Poor and 0 rated as Very Poor.  Responses are anonymous so the Practice are unable to follow-up any specific comments made.

Val asked how many people take up a Pharmacy appointment. Claire replied ‘not many’ then went on to add that the Pharmacy advise of ‘walk-ins’ and the Practice then add the contact on to patient records when it is something included in the Pharmacy First initiative.

David commented that it may encourage more people to take up a Pharmacy appointment if they understood that the consultation takes place in a private room and not ‘in public’ at the counter.  
A Pain Cafe in Dawlish, run by an independent organisation, had approached Claire.  They would be contacting WHLC to explore option for similar in Exminster.

COVID booster vaccinations, by invitation, will be delivered April through to June.

RSV vaccinations for adults aged 75 to 79.

The Westbank Practice website is to be refreshed/updated. Pages that are rarely accessed will be removed. It was Agreed that only the most recent PPG Minutes, meeting dates and information on how to join would be included. Claire would give the PPG preview of the new site at a future meeting.

Location and starting times of meetings for 2025

Since the last meeting an exchange of emails confirmed the meeting times and venues for 2025 as follows:

• January - no meeting
• February & March  2pm at Westbank
• April - AGM and Open Evening, 7pm at Westbank
• May/June/July - 7pm at Exminster Surgery
• August - no meeting
• September - 7pm at Exminster Surgery
• October/November/December - 2pm at Westbank

Amanda asked if one meeting a year could be held at Starcross surgery.  Idea was Carried Forward.

Canvassing patients in the surgery waiting room in an effort to get more input for the PPG. Select new dates

Claire and Anette would attend Exminster Surgery on Saturday 15th February 10am to 12:30pm.  Val would attend Starcross Surgery on Wednesday 12th March at 9am.  Christine would attend Exminster Surgery on Thursday 13th March 4-6pm. Mandy would join Christine if possible.

Val drew attention to an amendment (the PPG meeting dates) required on the leaflet used at surgery visits. Claire to amend and supply updated copies.

It was noted that as a result of feedback from one person at a previous canvassing session there was now a weight scale and height measure available in the waiting room at Exminster. It is hoped to install a similar system in Starcross shortly.

There was discussion about canvassing in other settings with younger people eg. Early Years groups, getting students of healthcare involved on a project basis and of opening up the meetings using technology to allow remote participants.

Amanda confirmed that technology was available in all the meeting rooms to allow remote participants via Zoom/Teams.

Anette to ‘dial in’ for the next meeting to test effectiveness.

Virtual PPG - Update

David commented that James (Exminster Practice IT) was being very helpful when needed.

No further comments made.

News from Westbank HLC

Devon Carers Hospital Services Team had lost funding from Devon County Council and NHS Devon CCG. As a result 25 people were made redundant but 8 had been taken on by WHLC.

There had been an increase in GP referrals for the rehab programme which was going from strength to strength.

Since the upgrade to the gym equipment more younger people were attending.

A 5 Year Strategic Plan was due at the end of May. 

Amanda announced that she was leaving WHLC at the end of February.  David thanked her for the commitment and support she had given.  Amanda’s replacement for representation at the PPG had not yet been decided.

RD&E Community Voices Group

Jan confirmed that the first meeting was scheduled for 18th February and would be held on Teams.  Jan would circulate the agenda once received and would ‘attend’ the meeting.

NHS 10 Year Plan: This initiative had also been brought to attention since the last meeting. It was a Government initiative aimed at the public to seek input to help deliver an NHS fit for the future. It wasn’t clear if it was designed for input only from individuals or from groups such as the PPG. Annette and Jan find out more.

NHS 10 year plan:

The initiative is about creating a health service fit for the future and aims to engage with tens of thousands of people - patients, members of the public, healthcare workers - via a survey, to hear about experiences and ideas.  Jan had completed the survey in a personal capacity.

Post meeting Note: the survey can be accessed via the NHS Change website then follow pages - Public Engagement - In case you missed it - Start Here.

Discuss possibility of moving to a quieter room at WHLC

Claire to ask Dr Wong (or another doctor) to present on aspects of the Practice; Amanda will secure representation for WHLC; Will Farmer to be invited to give an update on the wider role of the Pharmacy; Claire would preview an ‘historic’ video of the PPG and see if it could be shown.  Claire to see if someone could talk about the research projects being run at the Practice, the outcomes and how the results influence the Practice.

PPG Updates in Village Newsletters

Jan to provide copy to the Kenton, Starcross and Exminster village magazines covering the following topics: self check-in screens show estimated waiting time; Pharmacy consult takes place in a private room; COVID Spring booster, the Dawlish Pain Cafe initiative; forthcoming PPG waiting room visits; date, time and venue of AGM in April.

Correspondence

David had been contacted by a patient who wanted to join the PPG as a virtual member but had no email.  David had offered to speak to them and give feedback from the PPG when asked.

AOB

Faith said that she would be away for the AGM.

Regarding promotion of the AGM and Open Evening, Amanda said Katie or Hannah at WHLC would be able to put something on Facebook.  (Follow up note from Amanda: Katie Elliott, Head of Marketing and Fundraising, will be able to support us.  Christine to provide date and time details.)